Trump says Paris attack will have ‘big effect’ on French election

President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in the East Room at the White House in Washington, DC, April 20, 2017. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump says that the latest Islamic State group attack in Paris will have a “big effect” on France’s upcoming presidential election.

Trump tweeted early Friday, “Another terrorist attack in Paris. The people of France will not take much more of this. Will have a big effect on presidential election!”

An attacker emerged from a car in Paris Thursday and used an automatic weapon to shoot at officers in the center of the Champs-Elysees. One officer was killed as was the gunman.

Candidates in France’s presidential election treaded carefully in response to the attack with the first round of voting set for Sunday.

Trump has not expressed an opinion on the upcoming French election, although he was a supporter of the British decision to exit the European Union and has instead stated his preference to one-on-one trade and defense agreements with U.S. allies.